International climate protection

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TOGETHER FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION

International climate protection

Source: Jakub Krechowicz/123RF.com

Baden-Württemberg takes the lead in setting goals for climate protection and implementing measures to combat climate change. In addition to climate protection efforts in Baden-Württemberg, international action also plays a significant role. Baden-Württemberg got involved with climate protection in international partnerships and contacts, for example in the Upper Rhine Conference, the International Lake Constance Conference or as part of the Four Motors for Europe. Baden-Württemberg is also a member of the international organization "The Climate Group" and seeks alliances with countries and regions which are also active in the area of climate protection.

Baden-Württemberg and California initiated a Memorandum of Understanding, nicknamed the “Under 2 MOU” to combat climate change and to send a strong signal to the climate negotiations at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) in Paris end of 2015 and beyond.

This initiative is addressed to regions and governments worldwide willing to set ambitious climate protection goals and taking concrete measures to achieve them. All signatories agreed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions 80 to 95 %, or limit to 2 metric tons CO2-equivalent per capita by 2050.

On May 19, 2015 twelve jurisdictions, including the originators California and Baden-Württemberg, signed the initiative as Founding Signatories in Sacramento, California. By the end of the year 2015 at a signing ceremony hosted by the state of Baden-Württemberg at the German Pavilion at the UN Climate Conference (COP 21) 43 regions signed the Under 2 MOU, bringing the tally to date to 127 jurisdictions representing 27 countries and six continents. Together, they represent more than 729 million people and $ 20.4 trillion in GDP, equivalent to more than a quarter of the global economy.

Within a few months this initiative has grown into a strong alliance making a significant and an active contribution towards global climate protection and thus creating a further impulse for international efforts.

As a next step in the partnership, an exchange of Under2MOU-signatories was held in Brussels in spring 2016. During this event the participants took stock of the COP 21 and they discussed the resulting conclusions for the regional climate policy. The next event of the Under2MOU will take place in early June in California at this year's meeting of energy ministers, the so called 7. Clean Energy Ministerial, CEM7.

The Climate Group

COP 21

International cooperation

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